🏆 Nike Takes A Step Into The Future

Welcome to The Hype Report where we break down the latest news, stories & happenings around sports & web3.

Announcements, Plugs & Updates 🔌

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Here's What You Need To Know This Week 📝 

• Nike Announces “1st Native Web3 Sneaker"

• Scottie Pippen Is Releasing NFTs Inspired By Sneakers Worn During His NBA Career

• Michael Phelps x Sports Illustrated Drop NFTs For Mental Health

• These 4 Sports Leagues Are Getting Deep Into Web3...

Let's Dive Into It... 🤿

RTFKT Drops First-Ever Physical Nike Web3 Sneaker

Nike-owned blockchain sneaker startup RTFKT Studios announced the launch of Cryptokicks iRL, a sneaker collection that brings to life RTFKT’s vision to merge the digital and physical worlds.

Cryptokicks iRL is RTFKT’s first Web3 sneaker incorporating blockchain with smart technologies, including features such as:

• Auto-lacing

• Enhanced lighting

• Haptic feedback

• Walk detection

• Artificial intelligence algorithms

They'll be limited to 19,000 pairs of sneakers and sold as digital collectibles with physical counterparts in four unique color combinations: Blackout, Ice, Stone, and Space Matter.

The ultimate goal is to have RTFKT’s WM Chip, which links physical and digital products via the RTFKT mobile app, implanted in every single pair of Nike Web3 sneakers sold.

Bulls Legend Scottie Pippen Is Launching Digital Sneakers Collaboration With Orange Comet

Scottie Pippen has been making back-to-back moves in the web3 space like the Bulls in the 90s.

The six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen is now being celebrated through a new digital sneaker collaboration with Web3 production and entertainment company Orange Comet.

This limited collection will drop Tuesday, Dec. 20 on OpenSea and will consist of only 1,000 pairs of Pippen Sneaker NFTs, known as the SP33 Collection.

The digital wearables are inspired by kicks worn by Pippen throughout his basketball career.

Each NFT sneaker will feature 3D animations and will be built as a Metaverse-ready digital asset that can be worn by an avatar in any digital ecosystem.

They'll also hold additional utilities:

• One NFT holder (plus their one guest) gets a VIP hometown tour with Scottie Pippen to see where the legacy started as well as a private dinner with the NBA legend.

• Two NFT holders (each with a guest) at random will receive a private golf outing with Scottie Pippen that includes a lunch after the 18 exciting holes.

• Thirty-three NFTs holders will be randomly selected to receive a pair of physical sneakers autographed by Scottie

• An additional thirty-three holders will receive a QR Code to redeem $100 off any purchase from a notable sneaker lifestyle brand.

Fans can sign up for exclusive early access via the Scottie Pippen Allow List on ScottiePippenNFTs.com.

333 allow list members’ wallets will be randomly selected to receive a future free special edition Pippen NFT basketball presented in a state-of-the-art glass case, a true masterpiece on its own, designed by Orange Comet.

Michael Phelps x Sports Illustrated Drop NFTs For Mental Health

The first time Michael Phelps opened up about his challenges with anxiety and depression was in the Sports Illustrated cover story “The Rehabilitation of Michael Phelps,” which was published on November 16, 2015.

Now he's launching an NFT project around it.

This is Phelps’ debut on the blockchain and the NFT project spreads across four tiers:

• Green Tier NFTs are still images

• Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Tier NFTs which are digital collectibles that contain animation

These NFTs are selling as a pack for $20 each and come with 4 random NFTs from each of these tiers.

The proceeds support the Michael Phelps Foundation. This foundation provides thousands of children access to social-emotional learning curriculum. You can get your Michael Phelps NFTs by visiting the official mint page on OneOf.

These 4 Major Sports Franchises Aren't Playing Around When It Comes To Web3

Sports is one of the best arenas when it comes to integrating NFTs for fan engagement and interaction.

With NFTs, sports fans can safeguard their favorite highlights, represent their favorite teams and players, and even trade those collectibles.

These 4 leagues understand this and are utilizing NFTs to drive further engagement with their fans:

1/ NBA Top Shot

Despite the struggles the platform faced in 2022, it still stands as a potent reminder of what securing official licenses can do to ensure an NFT collection’s success.

Through NBA Top Shot’s official partnership with the NBA, it’s received full access to mint iconic highlights throughout the league’s nearly 80-year history as collectible NFTs.

During the peak of the platform's popularity, the collection saw sales of more than $200 million during the months of February and March of 2021.

Sales have largely slowed since then, in line with the rest of the market, but its community has maintained a strong interest.

2/ The WWE

Through its WWE Moonsault NFT marketplace, WWE fans can enjoy timed drops of 10,000-piece collections called “NFT Flips.”

Each batch of Flips is released in coordination with the WWE’s latest pay-per-view event.

The initiative began with an NFT drop coinciding with the 2022’s Hell in a Cell Event, which definitely included one of Reddit’s most enduring memes in its collection.

If the past couple of WWE pay-per-view events are anything to go by, Moonsault is here to stay for a long time.

3/ Major League Soccer

Back in August, Major League Soccer announced that the League has signed Striker, a Bored Ape, to a professional contract.

The deal marks the first digital athlete to sign with a professional sports organization.

Through this unique signing, the MLS intended to capitalize on the growing sports NFT movement by providing fans with a unique additional layer of entertainment.

Before the signing, Striker was simply known as Bored Ape #6045, whom marketing agency Get Engaged bought for a healthy sum of 100 ETH.

Following that, Striker looked poised to make a dent in soccer fandoms worldwide, thanks to The MLS’ All-Star Game.

Striker eventually made his virtual debut at the MLS’ All-Star Game on August 10, 2022, celebrated as the league’s newest All-Star.

On the virtual pitch, Striker was set to play the position of — you guessed it — striker.

4/ NFL x NFLRivals

The NFL is jumping into the play-to-earn (P2E) gaming space with NFL Rivals, which is a general manager simulation that enables users to select players from the NFL’s more than 100-year history — and draft them for consideration in the fantasy rosters of their dreams.

Imagine the squad you could put together...

However, NFL Rivals won’t just be a conventional P2E game. Like other games in the space, it’s more often explained as a play-to-own experience.

This will let users trade and exchange their highest-value players on the open market, either to improve the competitiveness of their roster or earn some dollars.

Ahead of the game’s 2023 launch, the NFL has also stirred up interest in NFTs among its fans with the NFL Rarity League collection — a series of virtual helmets designed after each individual NFL franchise.

That's it for this week!

Talk soon,

Malcolm